Lee Seung Jae, Jeong Sohyang, Lee Somin, Jung Seong Ho, Suh Myung-Whan, Song Jae-Jin, Lee Jun Ho, Ko Jung Min, Park Moo Kyun, Lee Sang-Yeon
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang, South Korea.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 9;15(1):12102. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-90635-7.
Hearing loss frequently occurs in Noonan syndrome and related RASopathies (NS-RAS), with conductive hearing loss being common. However, the genotypic and phenotypic features of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in NS-RAS, as well as genotype-phenotype correlations, remain unknown. Leveraging in-house database for syndromic deafness (N = 1666), we analyzed the genomic landscape and clinical phenotypes of 94 NS-RAS families with genetically confirmed via targeted panel sequencing. In particular, we explored the genetic signature of SNHL in NS-RAS and provided a detailed description of the auditory characteristics of SNHL, including its natural progression and outcomes of audiological rehabilitation. Additionally, molecular modeling and functional assays were conducted to explore how PTPN11 variants with distinct auditory phenotypes affect downstream signaling pathways. Resultantly, eighteen (19.1%) exhibited SNHL, predominantly with PTPN11 (88.9%) and RAF1 (11.1%) variants. Of these patients, the majority exhibited severe-to-profound SNHL with congenital onset, and cochlear implantation yielded favorable auditory outcomes. The remaining patients maintained normal hearing throughout the follow-up periods. The PTPN11 variants linked to SNHL compromise autoinhibition between the N-SH2 and PTP domains or disrupts the interaction between the C-SH2 domain and phosphorylated tyrosine (pTyr), showing a gain-of-function effect on the RAS/ERK cascade. Specifically, those variants associated with high penetrance and severe expressivity significantly enhanced ERK phosphorylation more than the variants associated with low penetrance and milder expressivity. This is the first cohort study on NS-RAS in South Korea, elucidating the gene signatures and phenotypic characteristics of SNHL and suggesting genotype-auditory phenotype correlations that inform clinical practice.
听力损失在努南综合征及相关RAS病(NS-RAS)中经常发生,传导性听力损失较为常见。然而,NS-RAS中感音神经性听力损失(SNHL)的基因型和表型特征以及基因型-表型相关性仍不清楚。利用内部综合征性耳聋数据库(N = 1666),我们通过靶向基因panel测序对94个基因确诊的NS-RAS家系的基因组格局和临床表型进行了分析。特别是,我们探索了NS-RAS中SNHL的基因特征,并详细描述了SNHL的听觉特征,包括其自然病程和听力学康复结果。此外,还进行了分子建模和功能测定,以探讨具有不同听觉表型的PTPN11变体如何影响下游信号通路。结果显示,18例(19.1%)表现为SNHL,主要为PTPN11(88.9%)和RAF1(11.1%)变体。在这些患者中,大多数表现为先天性重度至极重度SNHL,人工耳蜗植入产生了良好的听觉效果。其余患者在随访期间听力保持正常。与SNHL相关的PTPN11变体损害了N-SH2和PTP结构域之间的自身抑制作用,或破坏了C-SH2结构域与磷酸化酪氨酸(pTyr)之间的相互作用,对RAS/ERK级联反应显示出功能获得效应。具体而言,那些与高外显率和严重表型表达相关的变体比与低外显率和较轻表型表达相关的变体更显著地增强了ERK磷酸化。这是韩国第一项关于NS-RAS的队列研究,阐明了SNHL的基因特征和表型特征,并提出了指导临床实践的基因型-听觉表型相关性。